Blower question. Do I need to run every time??

[BumbleBeeTuna]

Re: Blower question. Do I need to run every time??

Take a boaters safety class too... greatest equipment I got for my boat was my safety card.

Now if I could just get my wife to take the class I could finally ski behind my own boat.

I thought having my own boat would mean I could wakeboard whenever I want.

 

[Bluepike]

Re: Blower question. Do I need to run every time??

I worked with a guy a couple of years ago that decided to take the wife and their baby out on his boat for a day of fun on the lake (lake Erie). They stopped at a restaurant on the Cuyahoga river, which feeds in to the lake, for some lunch. After lunch they climbed in to the boat, he skipped turning on the blowers, and turned on the ignition. The baby survived because he was blown out of the boat. He is now an orphan. Always run the blowers before you start the engine and keep them running at idle speeds and before you leave the fuel dock.Once you get used to doing this, it will become part of your routine for getting underway.

 

[jdlough]

Re: Blower question. Do I need to run every time??

What I insisted on, for this exact reason...

An OUTBOARD-POWERED boat.

No fumes, No blowers, No explosions.

 

[bds85466]

Re: Blower question. Do I need to run every time??

I don't know if its necessary but I run mine at trolling speeds also. The thought of gas vapors floating around the bilge freak me out.

It's not a lot different than smoking near the gas pumps...you just avoid it like the plague.

 

[jennis9]

Re: Blower question. Do I need to run every time??

I worked with a guy a couple of years ago that decided to take the wife and their baby out on his boat for a day of fun on the lake (lake Erie). They stopped at a restaurant on the Cuyahoga river, which feeds in to the lake, for some lunch. After lunch they climbed in to the boat, he skipped turning on the blowers, and turned on the ignition. The baby survived because he was blown out of the boat. He is now an orphan. Always run the blowers before you start the engine and keep them running at idle speeds and before you leave the fuel dock.Once you get used to doing this, it will become part of your routine for getting underway.

I remember that story - tragic.

 

[jennis9]

Re: Blower question. Do I need to run every time??

Now if I could just get my wife to take the class I could finally ski behind my own boat.

I thought having my own boat would mean I could wakeboard whenever I want.

We took the class together - you might want to offer to go with her. It's a good class and you can go out to lunch after and answer her questions. Ours was only two half-days on a saturday.

i was so glad when we did that because he was experienced and I had never been on a boat. I felt confident after a few times out last season and am really thankful I had my buddy with me, makes it more of a team effort.

 

[dkorzun21]

Re: Blower question. Do I need to run every time??

I worked with a guy a couple of years ago that decided to take the wife and their baby out on his boat for a day of fun on the lake (lake Erie). They stopped at a restaurant on the Cuyahoga river, which feeds in to the lake, for some lunch. After lunch they climbed in to the boat, he skipped turning on the blowers, and turned on the ignition. The baby survived because he was blown out of the boat. He is now an orphan. Always run the blowers before you start the engine and keep them running at idle speeds and before you leave the fuel dock.Once you get used to doing this, it will become part of your routine for getting underway.

Wow, Ok I will make sure I turn the blower on before every start. I only have one boat and want to keep it in good shape as well as myslef and friends. I thought the kid was messin with me when he told me that but I will be sure to run the blower for 4 mins before starting.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Blower question. Do I need to run every time??

Wow, Ok I will make sure I turn the blower on before every start. I only have one boat and want to keep it in good shape as well as myslef and friends. I thought the kid was messin with me when he told me that but I will be sure to run the blower for 4 mins before starting.

We run it for a few minutes before starting and we leave it ON until we're at planing speed. There happens to be a placard in our boat that tells us to leave it on until cruise speed is maintained.

 

[Utahboatnut]

Re: Blower question. Do I need to run every time??

Always turn it on I even forget to turn it off sometimes but feel like if I'm going to foget something that is not a bad thing. If i have to replace a 30-40 dollar blower so be it. Too much at stake to not turn it on every time.

 

[BumbleBeeTuna]

Re: Blower question. Do I need to run every time??

We took the class together - you might want to offer to go with her. It's a good class and you can go out to lunch after and answer her questions. Ours was only two half-days on a saturday.

i was so glad when we did that because he was experienced and I had never been on a boat. I felt confident after a few times out last season and am really thankful I had my buddy with me, makes it more of a team effort.

That's a good idea. I'm sure she would be much more willing if she didn't have to go alone. I guess a second trip wouldn't be a bad thing for myself either.

I've had her operate the boat while I'm observing, and started having her drive while we're pulling the boat. She's still reluctant to do too much though. I'd like to make it as much hers as it is mine, but I'm afraid it's wishful thinking.

 

[RickV1955]

Re: Blower question. Do I need to run every time??

Wow.....interesting thead!!

I have taken a safety course and did hear about running "blowers" on I/O powered boats. NEVER knew it was THAT dangerous!!

I've always had outboard motors - over the years, mostly fresh water (did a lot of bass fishing in and around New England) - last boat was a "BassTracker" with a 50HP Outboard.

Getting close to retirement, and have a home in Bradenton, Florida where we will live full time. In March, I bought a 19' Proline CC with a 115 Mercury outboard. Absolutely can't wait to get down there to start my "learning process" in the Gulf!!!

Honestly, with all the things I've heard here......I think I would avoid an I/O like the plague!!!!!!!! lol.

I would assume there would also be a major issue with anyone smoking on those type of boats??

Yikes.............

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Blower question. Do I need to run every time??

Gas fumes are heavier than air and will settle to the bottom of the bilge area. Your intake hose from the blower should be placed as low in the bilge as possible to remove as much as possible.
With the combination of the hatch open and the bilge blower running you stand a lot better chance of removing those fumes.

Exactly. The bottom of the engine compartment in a car is open, allowing fuel vapor to exit, while the bottom of the engine compartment in an inboard boat is the bilge. This means that fumes descend to a point where they will just sit, if not evacuated via a blower or passive air vents.

Use your blower every single time you start the engine, without fail - ever!

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Blower question. Do I need to run every time??

Wow.....interesting thead!!

Honestly, with all the things I've heard here......I think I would avoid an I/O like the plague!!!!!!!! lol.

I would assume there would also be a major issue with anyone smoking on those type of boats??

Yikes.............

Outboards are also more expensive to repair, and use more fuel than I/O's do. Also puts all of the weight outside the back of the boat. Turning on a blower is a minor item in exchange for more HP and better fuel efficiency than an outboard can give. They don't make outboards over 300HP unless you pay dearly for it. 300HP is middle of the pack for regular I/O's. Also, outboards are limited by shaft length, so many boats have drafts that extend deeper than an outboard can go.

 

[QC]

Re: Blower question. Do I need to run every time??

Modern OBs do not use more fuel . . . That is basically an outdated rule-of-thumb today. In fact many are more efficient simply due to reduced weight. Annnnnddd, if you add in all of the cooling system, manifolds, gimbals, u-joints etc. into your repair costs no way is an OB more expensive to repair. And this is from a 100% I/O owner . . .

 

[Tahoe 55]

Re: Blower question. Do I need to run every time??

Ok, run the blower,run the blower,run the blower.... I'm pretty sure the OP has got that point now. So it's ok for me to hijack a little....

All this discussion has got me thinking. I'm rather new to boating (had my boat for a year now) and I always run my blower as described above. I never smell gas fumes in the engine compartment or the blowers exhaust. I've got a MPI motor and unless I have a fuel leak somewhere, I don't understand how I could have any gas fumes in the engine compartment... I understand the importance of the blower operation for a carbureted boat, but in the back of my mind, feel it might not be as necessary for a fuel injected one. Don't get me wrong, I run my blower. I just wondered what you all thought about blowers on an MPI aplication?...

 

[QC]

Re: Blower question. Do I need to run every time??

I've got a MPI motor and unless I have a fuel leak somewhere, I don't understand how I could have any gas fumes in the engine compartment...

I think your answer is right there in your question . . . Maybe a better way for me to put it is: How would you ever know when you were going to develop a leak?

 

[CaptNCamille]

Re: Blower question. Do I need to run every time??

Some suggest running the blower while idling or at low speeds because there is little ventilation without air flow over the external vents.

Right, but on the other hand, don't forget to shut the blower off once up to cruising speed. Many blower motors are not meant for continuous use and will burn out after a while.

 

[Tahoe 55]

Re: Blower question. Do I need to run every time??

So, with MPI motor there shouldn't be any reason for gas fumes/vapors unless something fails and there's a fuel leak?......

 

[QC]

Re: Blower question. Do I need to run every time??

I think I'd say with any motor . . . You may get a whiff of gas from a Carbed engine, but if it is right , you wouldn't have an explosive amount. The blower is for what you don't know, not for what you do know . . .

 

[Tahoe 55]

Re: Blower question. Do I need to run every time??

I understand what you're getting at, but it still doesn't really answer my question.